In a statement released on Tuesday in honor of the 2025 Children’s Day celebration with the theme “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” his message was delivered.
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025, NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY, PRESIDENT BOLA AHAMED TINUBU’S MESSAGE
1. I join you in celebrating 2025 National Children’s Day with great joy and great pride, honoring our great nation’s past, present, and future. Let me reaffirm our commitment to nurturing and protecting you as Nigeria’s aspiring leaders, innovators, and changemakers on this occasion.
2. You are the most priceless component of our nation’s current educational system, the engine of our future, and the guardians of tomorrow’s promise, innovation, and leadership. You are the most priceless component of our nation’s fabric today. Therefore, I reiterate our constitutional, moral, and intergenerational commitment to safeguard every child in Nigeria, advance his rights, and fulfill his dreams.
3. The theme of “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” which is featured this year, could not be more appropriate because it directly references the culture we are creating. a culture where every child feels safe, respected, and heard, both online and offline. Just to be clear, today’s Nigerian culture is riddled with violence, bullying, and neglect.
4. More than one in three children globally are regularly bullied. Up to 65% of school-age children in Nigeria have some form of physical, psychological, or social aggression, according to studies. This is unacceptable. Fear-based learning is not effective for children. Fearful children cannot develop in a healthy way.
5. We, my fellow Nigerians and our beloved children, place child protection at the top of the Renewed Hope Agenda. This includes the full implementation of my most recent release, Nigeria’s National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024-2030). With support from robust funding and multi-sectoral coordination, the plan offers a comprehensive roadmap to prevent abuse, prosecute perpetrators, and support victims.
6. We are also making strong efforts to stop, recognize, and respond to all forms of child abuse. To broaden the scope of protection, strengthen their provisions, close implementation gaps, and ensure nationwide enforcement, we have started a comprehensive review of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) and the Child Rights Act as a government. We are also utilizing the Cybercrime Act, which is in full force, to safeguard children from exploitation, abuse, and bullying.
7. The Child Rights Act was domesticated in 36 states, which shows how determined we are to protect and ensure the welfare of children. However, protecting our children by themselves won’t suffice. We need a holistic approach that includes citizens, lawmakers, educators, caregivers, faith leaders, and parents.
8. We are funding additional, more specific national child protection systems, such as the CPIMS, which is expanding to track and respond to cases in real-time. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is leading nationwide awareness campaigns to end harmful traditional practices, strengthening community-based child protection systems, and training frontline responders.
9. In addition, we are committed to putting forth proactive measures to strengthen existing efforts to support families and communities in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda, including creating a robust institutional framework focused solely on Child Protection and Development. Every Nigerian child’s rights and well-being will be held accountable for their actions.
10. In addition to a number of other measures, we have developed Guidelines for School Administrators and a National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools. In teacher training, we incorporate social-emotional learning and child protection. We create inclusive pathways for every child to learn, thrive, and succeed, regardless of background, through the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children.
11. We are expanding access to primary healthcare and expanding dedicated Mother and Child Hospitals and healthcare systems, which offer integrated maternal and child services, in the care economy. We are collaborating with subnational governments to enable the construction of similar facilities throughout the US.
12. Every child should be raised in a loving and secure environment, in our opinion. The Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs has created the National Guidelines for Alternative Care for Children in order to give children who cannot remain in their biological homes the care and protection they deserve. Our child protection systems would benefit from the recently released National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC).
13. We work diligently to enhance child health and cognitive development through our School Feeding Scheme and Nutrition 774. The Nigerian Nutrition 774 project aims to prevent children from starving. Through this project, we are reaching out to every neighborhood to ensure that all children receive the nutrition they need to excel in their academic endeavors, creative endeavors, and overall health. A healthy child is well-equipped to deal with the problems of the future.
14. The Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs has recently established a dedicated Department of Nutrition to improve program delivery, policy coherence, and coordination around child and maternal nutrition in order to institutionalize our commitment.
15. To track progress, monitor gaps, and hold ourselves accountable, we are developing social protection tools like the the Universal Child Grant.
16. The security of our children depends more on community vigilance than just government policies. Every Nigerian should be urged to become a champion for child protection because of this reason I’m launching a “See Something, Say Something, Do Something” campaign today.
17. You matter, our beloved kids. Your dreams are important. Your opinions matter. Nobody has the right to hurt, sneer, or disparage you. Talk up if you are being bullied or harmed; you will be heard and protected.
18. I urge all partners, stakeholders, and people who have responsibilities to support and advance our collective efforts. All of our plans, budgets, and policies must include child rights.
19. I urge those who haven’t yet taken action to take bold steps for the welfare of our children to now. Our children are at the heart of our nation, not just numbers.
20. Let today be the start of a new movement to create a Nigeria where every child develops peace, dignity, and love. No child ever languishes in silence or is left behind.
21. To all of our children, congratulations. May your joy be heard all over the world as a sign of renewed hope and a prosperous future.
Long live the children of Nigeria.
